The Twins "remain strongly interested" in free-agent right-hander Bronson Arroyo, a source tells Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Arroyo would become the fourth free-agent starter to be signed by the Twins this offseason if a deal is consummated.
While the Twins were widely expected to pursue rotation upgrades this winter, few projected this large of an outlay. The Twins have already committed $84MM to Ricky Nolasco, Phil Hughes and Mike Pelfrey, and Arroyo, who some believe could receive a contract in the three-year, $36MM range, would likey push that to well above $100MM. It's a major strategy change for Minnesota, which hasn't been a major player in the free agent market in previous offseasons. The rumored interest in Arroyo suggests that GM Terry Ryan and his staff believe prospect Kyle Gibson could use more minor league seasoning after struggling mightily in 2013, his first crack at the majors. Kevin Correia, who's signed through 2014, has a claim on one of the team's two remaining rotation spots.
MLBTR's Tim Dierkes predicted a two-year, $24MM deal for Arroyo in September. The 36-year-old had a 3.79 in 2013 and has thrown at least 199 innings every year since 2005.
They are apparently cornering the market on back of the rotation starters…interesting strategy instead of spending big on a guy like Garza who will probably make far more than he’s really worth.
twinkies overpaid for the three pitchers they signed too. It’s a big gamble relative to their market size.
Since the new Target Field was built, market size is no longer a major factor. They were selling it out the first two years and making a nice profit and could easily support a $100million+ budget if they chose to. Now, because of the last few years, they need to spend in the interim to win and get the crowds back in the mix, until their minor studs can come up in two years.
I see your point. But overpaying subpar (and injury prone) pitchers is a risky risky bet, especially if you don’t have a proven ace to anchor the staff. I would have taken that dough and taken a chance on Johan Santana (bringing him back) and handing the ball to your younger arms the other four days. Nolasco, Hughes, and Pelfrey… not sure about that. We’ll see!!
The best option for Arroyo at this stage is to just come back to Cincinnati. He knows the manager, the players, the front office. He knows what he’ll get in Cincy’s rotation. About 30 starts, 200 IP, roughly a mid 3.00 ERA, and 98 percent shot at another crack at the postseason. He won’t get a shot at the postseason with the Twins.
He already has a ring…he might simply want to get paid.
That may be. But he himself says he loves Cincinnati and would love to be back here. I think he needs to forgo money and just go where his heart tells him he should go. If he feels that strongly, take the lesser deal from Cincinnati and just go where you’re comfortable and want to be. (A side note, Cincinnati won’t go more than a year.)
I would LOVE to see Arroyo pitch in the American League. He’d be the new Brad Radke (as in I’m gonna probably give up 40+ bombs)
The sad thing is, these SP signings by Minn actually are an improvement over last years rotation. But I’m not sure if that’s saying much???
With Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco, Kevin Correia, Mike Pelfrey and Bronson Arroyo how are they going to do this? Do they start Kyle Gibson, Andrew Albers, Samuel Deduno, Vance Worley, and Scott Diamond at Rochester?
Deduno, Worley, and Diamond are all out of options so that puts them in somewhat of a fix…
If Arroyo signs….
Start Deduno in Rochester then he’ll probably come up at All-Star
Then trade ether Diamond, Gibson, or/and Worley for power bats!!
Can we get Cabrera and Fielder for just Diamond and Gibson, or would we have to throw in Worley?
Are the twins going to be the first team ever to sign their starting 5 all in the same off season? Crazy
Except for Correia
In their defense, they kind of needed to.
What do the Twins plan to do with Vance Worley?
SInce they are completely revamping the rotation.
Also with all this extravagant spending, do they expect to be better than anyone within the division? Where do they expect to finish?
I think Worley has a chance but he has to earn it. If he wouldn’t have been so bad last year he’d have been a lock.
I think they expect to be better than bottom 5 in MLB and as close to .500 that they can get. So 2nd or 3rd in the division likely. not sure if Cle can be as good without Jimenez, same for the Royals without Santana…if neither re-signs.
Every team in our division has gotten weaker this offseason. Except the Twins. We still probably won’t catch Detroit, but we have a legit shot at battling the Royals for second.
Hughes, Nolasco, Pelfrey, Arroyo, and Correia … The all number 3 starter rotation!
Calling Hughes and Pelfrey #3s is quite generous.
Touche. To be honest, all of them could be 4s or 5s.
Damn good 4 or 5s.
I can’t speak to the rest of them, but Hughes wasn’t ‘damn good’ at anything last year.
This would make a lot more sense if their position player prospects were ready for the big leagues. Say, next year. I think they’ve mistimed their spending spree.
Hicks, Sano and Rosario are 2014 options. More than likely July or later though. The Twins needed to get as close to .500 in 2014 as possible. They needed to bridge the gap for their pitching prospects and they’ve done it.
Yeah, they’ve spent a lot, but there isn’t a payroll issue. They will be in the 80s if they do nothing else. I don’t think payroll even gets to 100 until 2017 or 2018. Only Nolasco will be around for that. A lot of those arbitration guys may not be around then either. So they didn’t handcuff themselves now or in the future as the Twins can afford a payroll in the 90s or low 100s every year.
I could also see us dealing Plouffe at some point this year if they fall out of it to open up the 2015 3B job for Sano, if they feel comfortable with him at 3B
If each of thheir “prospect is up in late 14 early 15 then most of these guys will still be around. Correia’s contract is only through this year, I expect he gets dealt by midseason along with Willingham. I could see Correia getting dealt this offseason too if we want to give Worley another chance.
Either way 2015 lineup could very well look like this:
2B Brian Dozier
1B Joe Mauer
CF Byron Buxton
3B Miguel Sano
DH XXX
RF Oswaldo Arcia
C Josmil Pinto
LF XXX
SS XXX
SP: Meyer, Nolasco, Hughes, Gibson, Pelfrey
Thats should leave a ton of financial maneuvering room, which could come i handy if Meyer or buxton isnt ready. I don’t see any world in which Sano is not starting day one 2015.
Throwing 199innings or more every season since 2005 might be a downside. 6 of those years were past the age of 30 and at 36 I’d be pretty scared giving him multiple years. That arm is ready to blow.
Yeah, but there are pitchers in little league that throw nearly as hard as Arroyo does. If I were a club needing an arm for 2 years I’d trust his arm to hold out that long. That being said, if he signs with Cincy, I hope it is only a year.
They’re going to platoon their Rotation, starting pitchers will go 4 innings. Then be replace by their platoon partner for 3 innings. Rest 4 days then reverse the role. Minnesota will need 8 starting pitchers, this is evolution happening right before out eyes. Pure guava baby.
Love it.
There it is! Their new and improved rotation
Bronson Arroyo.. Probably, I hope signs a contract with Minnesota
Ricky Nolasco
Kevin Correia
Phil Hughes
Mike Pelfrey/Samuel Deduno
Not much better really. Arroyo is a number 2. Nolasco a 3. The rest are 5’s on most teams.
Arroyo at this stage isn’t a #2. At absolute best he’s a #3. As a Reds fan, I’ve loved having Arroyo on this team and watching him pitch. His only downside now is when he’s good, he’s usually borderline lights out. When he’s bad, he’s a right handed Jimmy Haynes.
Has Arroyo ever been a #2? Never had high K or GB rates, almost always posts an ERA in the 3.9-4.2 range, and his career numbers: 4.19 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 4.40 SIERA, 2.37 K/BB (although he’s done better the last two years due to less walks) and he has averaged 190 IP over the last 10 years.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s been a good innings eater, but calling him a #2 at any point in his career is a stretch.
Not much better? You should go check who was in their rotation last year. It is a much better rotation. However, it’s still a mediocre rotation at best.
Yeah true! But we’re talking about the Twins here